Combination ladder and bench.



No. 845,036. l PATENTBD FEB. 19, 1907. A. G. JOHNSON.

CMBINATION LADDER `AND BENCH. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1e, 190e.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

me NoRRls PETER: ca., WASHINGTON, D. c.

PATENTED. FEB. 19, 1907.

AQ G. JDHNSON. COMBINATION LADDER AND BENCH.

l APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1906.

UNFE STATES P'FFNT @FFQE ARTHUR GLENN JOHNSON, OE PITTSRURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALE To EMIL o. KLEIN, OE ALLEGIIENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

COllllBlNATlON LADDER AND BENCH.

Application iiled Augu Specification of Letters Patent.

st 16,1906. Serial No. 330.914.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ARTHUR GLENN JOHN- sON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of` Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combination Ladder and Bench, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ladders and benches; and the invention has for its object to combine these articles to form a simple and inexpensive household article.

Another Obj ect of this invention is to provide a combination step-ladder and bench that can be easily and quickly manipulated when it is desired to use either article.

Vith the above and other Objects in view, which will more readily appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the upper part of the ladder portion of the device with the platform or seat portion detached. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation ofthe upper portion of the improved device when folded. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the improved device. Fig. 6 is a side elevation Of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the device when being used as a bench, with one of the legs thereof partly folded. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of part of the device arranged as a bench. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the improved device arranged as a bench, and Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 9.

My improved combination article is constructed of two hinged frames 1 and 2, the frame 2 consisting of two side rails 3,each composed Of'two bars 4 and 5. The side rails 3 at their upper ends are provided with plates 6, to which are pivotally connected the side rails 7 of the frame l. The side rails 7 are connected together by a plurality of transverse bars 8, and upon said bars are mounted longitudinally disposed slats 9. The ends of the slats terminate before reaching the top of the device to accommodate a frame 10. r1`he rails 11 of said frame are pivotally connected to the rails 7 of the frame l by a bolt 12, and connecting the rails 11 are bars 14, upon which are mounted slats 15, adapted to form a continuation of the slats 9. The rails 11 support transverse slats 16, which are adapted to forni a platform for supporting articles while the device is being usedl as a ladder, and the slats 9 and 15 form a top for the device when used as a bench, to be presently described. The inner ends of the rails 11 are connected by metallic straps 17 to the vbars 4 of the frame 2, and when the device is in the form of a ladder the inner ends of the rails 11 are adapted to bear against the under side of one of the steps of the ladder.

The bars 5 of the side rails 3 of the iraIne 2 are provided with movable end sections 18, having rounded ends 19, which are pivotally connected to the plate 6, as at. 20, and to plates 21, carried loy the lower ends of the side rails 3 of the frame 2. Connected to the sections 18 by metallic straps 22 are braces 23, Said braces in the ladder formation lying between the sections 18 and the bars 4. rl`he braces 23 are connected to the bars 4 by metallic straps 24, and said bars 4 and the'sections 18 are notched, as at 25, to receive the ends of the braces 23 when the article is used as a bench.

The lower and upper steps of the ladder are formed of a plurality of pieces 26, 27, and 28, the piece 28 being clamped, as at 29, between the sections 18, the piece 27 between the braces 23, and the piece 26 between the bars 4. The remaining steps 30 of the ladder are carried by the bars 4 and 5.

To hold the sections 18 and braces 23 in alinement with the Side rails 3 of the frame 2, I connect a piece of wire 31 to each bar 4 adjacent to the piece or step 26, said wires having hook-shaped ends 32. The sections 18 are provided With hook-shaped members 33, over which the wires 31 pass and engageloy their hooked terminals 32 in eyelets 34, carried by the bars 5 of the frame 2.

When the sections 18 and braces 23 are used to form the legs or supports of a bench, I

lOO

use the wires 31 to lock the ends of the braces 23 in the notches 25. The ends of the braces 23, which are connected to the bars 4, are provided with hook-shaped members 35, over which the wires 31 pass and engage in the eyelets 34.

The top of the frame 2 is provided with a plate 36, which is braced by a bar 87, upon which rests one of the slats 16 of the frame 10 when said frame is closed and is to be used as part of a bench-top.

I desire to call attention to the fact that when the article is being used as a bench the bars 8 of the frame l lie directly upon the edges of the steps 30, and to prevent the frame 1 from being raised I provide said frame with hooks 58, adapted to engage in eyes 39, carried by the bars 4 of the frame 2.

It can be readily seen from the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, how the sections 18 and braces 23 are moved to form the legs or supports of a bench and locked to prevent them from collapsing.

My improved combination article is preferably constructed of wood, with the exception of lthe metallic straps previously -mentioned.

I wish it to be understood that such changes in the details of construction as are permissible by the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-' 1. A combined ladder and bench consisting of two-hinged frames 1 and 2, slats carried by the frame 1, a frame pivoted at the `hinged end of the frame 1 and connecting with said frame 2, said 'frame 2 comprising two bars 4 and 5, said bar 5 having end sections hinged to said bar 4, braces connecting with said end sections and with said bar 4 and adapted to hold said end sections at right angles to said bars 4 when used as a bench, steps carried by said bars, the upper and lower steps of said ladder consisting of pieces carried by said sections, said braces and said bars 4, hook-shaped wires connectling with said bars 4 and adapted to engage said braces andsaid bars @substantially as described.

2. An article of the type described consisting of hinged frames 1 and 2, slats carried by the frame 1, a frame pivotally mounted in the hinged end of said frame 1 and connecting with said frame 2, said frame 2 comprising bars 4 and 5, end sections arranged to laline with said bars 5 and connecting with said bars 4, means normally interposed between said sections and said bars 4 to hold said sections at right angles to said bars 4,

3. In a device of the class described, two frames hingedly united at one end, one of said frames having spaced longitudinal slats extending for a portion of the length thereof and the other of said frames comprising spaced side bars connected by transverse steps spaced apart, a supplemental frame pivotally connected to said slatted frame adjacent to the inner ends of the slats thereof and formed with spaced slats corresponding with and adapted to form continuations of the longitudinal slats when the supportingframe is disposed in one position, end sections swinging from said stepped frame and adapted to form supporting-legs, a brace member adapted to support said leg-sections when in extended position.

4. In a device of t-he class described, two frames hingedly united at one end, one of said frames having spaced longitudinal slats extending for a portion of the length thereof and the other of said frames comprising spaced side bars connected by transverse steps spaced apart, a supplemental frame pivotally connected to said slatted frame adjacent to the inner ends of the slats thereof and formed with spaced slats corresponding with and adapted to form continuations to the longitudinal slats when the supportingframe is disposed in one position, end sections swinging at one end from said stepped frame, braces movably coupled at one end to said end sections, and means whereby said braces are detaehably connected to said stepped frame.

V5. In a device of the class described, two frames hingedly united at one end, one of said frames having spaced longitudinal slats extending for a portion of the length thereof and the other of said frames comprising spaced side bars connected by `transverse steps spaced apart, end sections swinging at one end from said stepped frame, braces swinging at one end from said end sections, spaced links movably coupling said bracesto said end sections, whereby the same are supported in distended position.

6. In a device of the class described, two frames hingedly united at one end, one of said frames formed of spaced side members and spaced transverse steps extending between the side members and the other of said frames formed of spaced side members connected by transverse tie members spaced apart to correspond with said steps and adapted to bear against the same when the frames are in folded position and with spaced longitudinal slats extending over said tie members, end sections swinging from said stepped frame and forming supporting-legs, and braces adapted to supportsaidleg-sections when in extended position.

7. In a device of the class described, two frames hingedly united vat one end, one of said frames'having spaced longitudinal slats IOO lIO

ITS

ISO

and the other of said frames comprising other ends to the same stepped frame, and spaced side members connected by transeyes carried by said braces and adapted to be Verse steps spaced apart, end sections swingengaged by said rods when the braces are dising from said stepped frame and forming tended.

supporting-legs, braces swinging from said In testimony whereof I affix my signature end sections and adapted to bear against the y in the presence of two witnesses.

stepped frame when distended, means for v movably coupling said braces to said stepped ARTHUR ,GLENN JOHNSON' frame and end sections, coupling-rods swlng- Witnesses: ing at one end from said stepped frame and MAX H. SROLOVITZ, adapted to be detachably connected at their A. J. TRIGG. 

